UK Corporate Games at Keele
Major companies will flock to Keele University next June to show off their sporting prowess after Staffordshire fought off stiff competition from around Britain to host the prestigious UK Corporate Games.
The nationally recognised competition could bring up to £2.5million to Staffordshire, and Keele University is set to be a key venue thanks to its excellent range of sports facilities and event spaces, which are set on one campus in over 600 acres of woodland. A wide array of sports and activities are set to take place across Staffordshire throughout the four day event and will see Keele University host cricket, hockey, rugby and netball competitions to name just a few, as well as the Great Games Party at its Students’ Union.
Organisers chose venues across Staffordshire due to their versatility to accommodate the demands of the four day event, as well as being large enough to host the thousands of competitors from Britain’s businesses. With 2,000 bedrooms on offer, Keele University has already started taking bookings to accommodate the business athletes during the Games.
Marcus Wilson, head of marketing at Keele University, says: “This is a very exciting opportunity for Keele and Staffordshire to show what the region can do for businesses nationwide. We pride ourselves on the versatile facilities across the University and at Keele Hall, our on-campus grade II listed conference venue, and our dedication to being able to provide an alternative to traditional networking and conferencing.”
Over 4,000 competitors are expected for the 2015 UK Corporate Games, to be held in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for three days in June. Already there have been 1,500 entrants for the games including firms such as CSC and Ernst & Young who have registered 300 and 200 employees respectively.
Doug White, Global Partnership Director at UK Corporate Games, said: “We have been fortunate enough to stage games all around the world in great cities like Moscow, Zagreb and Bilbao and right across the UK, but if you consider the tremendous outdoor facilities at Keele, the massive indoor capacity at Fenton Manor, the impressive facilities at Newcastle College and the beauty of Trentham Gardens, in addition to the central location, we genuinely have confidence that this is a match for any destination.”
Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Environment and & Transport, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming all businesses, big or small, national or local, to participate in the Games across Stoke and Staffordshire. The games will not only be an excellent boost to the economy, but also a fantastic opportunity to showcase what the area has to offer as a place to work, socialise and get involved in sport.”
Analysis of the 2010 games in Liverpool calculated 4,460 participants spent approximately £2,490,911 on accommodation, food and drink; £390,663 on shopping and visiting attractions; and £136,578 on travel and other expenses.
For more information about Keele University Conferences and Events visit www.keele-conference.com, and to find out more about the UK Corporate Games go to www.corporate-games.co.uk/